Reviews by Snow81:

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Appearance: Poured aggressively into glass, about a 1/2 inch pink head built up. It was pretty cool to look at with the fact the head being almost solid pink instead of the traditional white. The color of the beer was of ripen raspberries - an opaque dark red.

Smell: first smelled from the bottle and then from glass. On both occasions instantly picked up raspberry yogurt. It came with that lactic tartness that you smell in yogurt. Plus the aroma is intense; it makes you anticipate you will taste a whole lot of raspberries.

Taste: very very tart with a nice raspberry ting. A little bit of sweetness blended into the mix as well. The raspberries came in really sharp at the beginning but then became more distinctive toward the end with a dry finish. The aftertaste was like after eating raspberry yogurt, that lactic acid left behind in the mouth. Maybe the smell had me expecting more raspberries but overall it still tasted great!

Mouthfeel: very light bodied and a little thin. I think that's pretty much standard with a berliner weiss at low alcohol content. No complaint here. Outstanding.

Overall: this is a great beer, very glad I purchased this! I love the appearance, the smell, and the taste. The fact that I can enjoy this tasty beverage without a buzz is a huge bonus. (1,323 characters)

A pop... gunsmoke. Framboise du Nord takes on the appearance of a hazy ruby when filling the glass. This is a beer that manages to glow when backlit. The head takes on some color from body sporting a pinkish hue over the white base. The foam is active and crackles from the second it's poured to the second it fizzles to nearly nothing. A good looking beer to be sure.

A quick whiff and I'm hit with nothing but dense, rich, fresh raspberry puree. There is even some greenness along the lines of under ripe berries mixed in the bursting ripe. A wheaty twang, a little tactic, steps forward with each swirl of the glass. The wildness leans toward wildflowers and buttermilk. All of those qualities combine to make my mouth water.

The flavor profile very much follows the nose. Rich raspberry puree leads the way, what seems to be the greenness adds a touch of tart. A touch of woodsy notes seem to add tannins though it may just be the seeds. Wheat adds depth and a twang while the lactic quality brings that touch of outdoors, wildflowers, pollen, and the like.

A body that's light and effervescent fit this beer perfectly. The carbonation is lively but never moves too quickly. The tart is easily approachable but digs at the sides of the tongue and lingers. The finish is all at once fruity and dry, leaving me wanting another drink immediately after each swallow.

Star of the North was an amazing Berliner Weiss. With that as a base beer what could possibly go wrong? Answer: nothing. This beer is bursting with raspberry freshness, bursting with soft lactic tartness, and bursting with a wheaty twang all wrapped up into a staggering 3.8% package. While the raspberries mask some of the robust Berliner of the original but it also adds a delicious fruity quality. I wouldn't turn down either. Excellent! (1,859 characters)

I've been anticipating this one since I purchased it a few days ago. Bottled Oct., 2013 so it has a few months on it.

Poured into a tulip glass from the bottle.

The first thing you notice is the amazing color of this beer, a beautiful and hazy light red. The smell is amazing: fresh raspberries just picked from our backyard. A beautiful pour with a pink, foamy head that quickly dissipates.

The first taste is all raspberry, tart and slightly astringent. There is a bit of a yeasty finish and, perhaps just a slight, and not unpleasant funk. As the beer warms, there is a slight finishing bitter note that is quite nice. There are only hints of the base Berliner Weisse. The bottle says it is "aged in wood" but I did not pick up any of those notes.

The beer is light and effervescent on the tongue, very much like a champagne.

Overall, a very pleasant experience. I would like to drink this again. (907 characters)

Overall: I enjoy this even more than the base Star of the North beer. This is almost like a Lambic, and who would have ever thought that Schell's would have become the premier sour manufacturer in Minnesota. (693 characters)

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a tall New Glarus Signature Pilsner Glass. Bottled in October of 2013.

Appearance: Pours a deep and somewhat hazy reddish pink with a lot of rising bubbles. About two fingers of pink head that quickly fade into a thin patchy layer. Lacing is light.

Smell: A tart, juicy, and very funky and yeasty wheat aroma with lots of raspberry scent. Big upfront scent of raspberries. Wheat and pale malt with hints of biscuit, yeast, straw, and cracker. Scent of Brett giving a tart cherry like presence. Funky cheese like scent from the bacteria. The raspberries and funk stand out and play off each other well. A pretty interesting and good aroma.

Taste: Like the aroma hints at, a very juicy, tart, and funky wheat taste with a big helping of raspberries. Sweet upfront taste of the raspberries stands out. Wheat and malt with notes of yeast, biscuit, straw, and cracker. Strong taste of funk from the bacteria that reminds me of Belgian cheese. Some Brett as well giving some notes of tart cherry. The sweet raspberries and funk balance each other well. A pretty good taste.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a fairly high level of carbonation. Crisp and fairly creamy. Tart and very juicy. Sweet but finishes fairly dry.

Overall: A very good take on a Berliner Weiss. The big funk presence is balanced nicely by the sweet raspberries. Another great example of a good tasting low ABV brew. (1,423 characters)

Opens puckering raspberry seed and pulp. Juicy in the middle with a nice balance of sweet and tartness. Some plasticy notes towards the end along with more raspberry tartness. Dry and fruity finish. Pretty simple but very good.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and goes down clean and crisp. Clean finish with a slightly dry aftertaste. Spot on for the style.

Awesome, awesome, awesome is all I can say about this beer. Spot on nose, taste and feel. Really under the radar and certainly worth seeking out. (912 characters)

Star of the North refermented for an additional four months with raspberries. Pours pink with gold tones. One finger of head forms that settles to a thin cap. Light spotty lacing is left down the glass.

The aroma offers a big blast of raspberries then I pick up the funky cheese qualities of the lacto. The wheat and brett is mostly covered up.

A complex flavor awaits the drinker. Raspberries with lip puckering sourness. Good wheat flavor and cheesy funk. Nice dry finish that compliments the sourness. For such a low ABV beer, it packs a lot of flavor.

Much better carbonated than the original. Effervescent and light bodied that is suited perfectly to a sour, dry beer.

Closest thing to a lambic to be bottled in MN. One of the best sours to ever come out of this state. Very impressive. (795 characters)